Savannah Blues (Prelude). Chapter One.
#1 of Savannah Blues
Savannah Blues (Prelude). Chapter One.
Chapter One
By Roofles
A start of a Story.
Isaac stopped at the end of the isle waiting his turn. The hyena was dressed in an old grayish blue suit that had belonged to his father and his father before him. It was old, moth eaten and smell of dust bunnies. It was itchy and uncomfortable and every time he wore it he felt guilty. He only ever wore it once a week, on a day that was supposedly suppose to be the most relaxing of the Seven. Sunday. And it was always for the same reason. Church.
The young High School Sophomore had his head bowed as he waited at the front of the line, in front of everyone, waiting for the older lion to finish reading a passage from the bible. His mane was graying and the bags under his eyes were the only thing showing the lions true age. He had a deep somber voice that both was awe-inspiring and slightly terrifying for the small scavenger standing before him. Pastor Rick was a lion who acted like a lamb, something he commonly told those he shepherd.
"And with it this bread," he held up the small square, "Is his body. And this juice," he chuckled shaking the deep brown mane around his head. "I mean wine," several people joined in with halfhearted laughs at the poor joke. "Is his blood. Now please, come up behind young Isaac." Those graying eyes turned towards the hyena up front making his ears fall back, wavering under that unyielding gaze. "And please join with me as we finish our service." He opened his arms wide as if acknowledging everyone.
Isaac always found it a bit morbid as he walked up to take the tiny thimble sized paper cup of juice and square shaped bread. Morbid that one would eat the body of Christ and drink his blood. He was familiar with the reason behind it but never actually wanted to go up and do it. It just seemed rude to eat someone. His mother on the other hand was another story.
One of the first to arrive, his mother made sure they sat in the very front row. Standing up to sing each song, to hold their paws up high to receive his forgiveness and to be the perfect model family for their neighbors to see. Or at least that's how it felt to him and how he would later recall it in life, as he looked back on these days. He wasn't sure what his brother thought on the matter. Never really did. He even had been jealous of his older sister who had moved off to college. At least she didn't have to come here and prostate herself in front of everyone.
Isaac had quickly taken his seat wolfing down the bread out of hunger and was half way to drinking the droplet of grape juice before the scolding gaze of his mother caught his eye. "Sorry," he mumbled holding the paper cup with both paws. The white paper cup was something you would find at the local fast food places, used to keep ketchup in. He toyed with it in his stubby fingers trying not to spill it. They wouldn't have lunch until after the service and wasn't allowed to eat before hand due to "ruining their appetite." He had never had such a problem in his life. Being a big belly hyena kind of came hand in paw with being naturally hungry.
His brother Geoffrey was sitting on the other side of his well dressed mother. She wore a darker shade of pink dress that barely went below her knees, black panty hose ran up her legs and with a beaded black jacket and cowl like hat made her seem as if she were going to a funeral than to church. The hat had several connected beads draped down on the side of her snout. A black mesh fabric was between the beads forming a veil. His brother was in a simple suit like his own but was green rather than blue.
"Please if everyone will stand," at this cold boney fingers gripped his arm tightly. Holding back a yelp Isaac was forced to his feet. "Thank you all for being here with us, to share this experience together and thank you Lord for your understanding and forgiveness. For your undying love and care for your sheep." The lion bowed his head and everyone followed suit. Isaac never closed his eyes though already feeling unnerved being in the front as they were. He kept trying to adjust the pants he wore so they didn't bunch up. He could feel every eye on his fat posterior and stubby tail.
"Thank you so much, Pastor." His mother, Jenny, said guiding the two up to the front. Geoffrey looked thoroughly bored but was younger than Isaac and just put up with it knowing the years to come. "We had a great time, didn't we boys?" She noticeably relaxed as those around them began to pour out of the uncomfortably warm room and into the refreshing afternoon air.
"It was as good as last time." Isaac said truthfully. He was soon abandoned with the older lion as his mother soon ran off, dragging his brother behind, to make sure to say goodbye to the other moms. To keep up appearances until the very end.
"Thank you for coming." Pastor Rick said to the Lyons, twin lions. He turned back to Isaac and those eyes seemed to bore into his very soul. "And how are you today Isaac?" The lion asked in that even powerful tone that seemed to shake the very rafters around them. His voice pulled everyone's attention and his natural charisma kept it. Those golden eyes seemed to glow in the thick mane cascading around his head like golden brown waves.
"It goes, Pastor." Isaac said unable to meet those eyes. "Just school and such."
"You can call me Rick, if it makes you more comfortable." The lion said sincerely making Isaac feel even more self conscious. He hadn't been anything like the old Minister.
"Mum says its not polite." Isaac just grumbled in reply wishing he could retreat. The lion said his goodbyes to a passing family of rabbits before turning back to him. Rick had always been a good fellow during these days.
"It is your choice," Pastor Rick just nodded. "And how are things going at school?"
"Good." Isaac just nodded in that almost dead tone he always used when talking to people at church. The pit in his stomach only ever grew worse as time went by.
"I'm glad to hear. If you ever need any help, please come seek me out." Rick smiled softly and placed a large paw on his shoulder. He crouched down as he wrapped an arm around the young hyena, looking over at where his mother stood. "You should get over there and save Ms. Dandy before your mother chews her ear off." He chuckled softly in that deep voice. It was relaxing Isaac had to admit, if a bit intimidating.
Isaac followed his gaze over to his mother and brother and the poor goose she was chatting at. It really did look as if she were about to chew the poor birds head off as she yammered away.
"That's mum for ya," Isaac just grumbled and was about to head over when he got a strong pat on the back.
"Take care, Isaac." The lion said before turning towards a few others. Isaac wished he had gotten to know the lion more.
Isaac splayed his ears, whiskers drooping as he slumped his way over sticking his large hands into his pocket as he went. It was all in an attempt to minimize his presence and try to get unnoticed by the elderly souls around him. He was sure even back then half of them came only to try and repent for their evil ways while they still had the time. It shouldn't be an obligation, a forced thing. It should be a choice to come here.
Isaac wasn't disproportionate in any means. He was just a hyena. Which just so happened to be a rather disproportionate species. Thick neck, big belly, large paws, short legs, stubby tail. All just natural things that when combined together made for almost awkward looking mammal. You'd never see a hyena in a sports magazine or on a billboard. Those were reserved for "pure breds," wolves, lions and others society dictated as good looking species that you should strive to be and hate yourself for not being born as. Which left everyone else to be lost in the crowd. And those of the same breed as the "stars" feeling all high and mighty because of it. A few choice souls came to mind as he thought spitefully of school the next day.
"Hey, we done?" Isaac said trying to sound casual and light on the matter as he reached his mother and brother. Geoffrey already had his DS out and was playing some new game. He stuck a head phone in one ear and just let the other dangle forgetting the world around him.
"Just a moment, dear." Jenny said almost patting him on the head before turning back to the goose who had taken the chance to retreat. "Oh. Well ok then, let's get some lunch." She said disappointed when she could get that cobbler recipe she had been after.
The trio began to siphon out of the church with pleasant greetings on their right and left before breaching free and getting lung full of clean, cool air of their suburban town in the middle of nowhere. Isaac could still feel the air rush over his fur and the freedom he felt every time he stepped out of those doors. He couldn't recall half the bodies inside (oddly enough that old goose that lived down on Bakerstreet). He just recalled the fresh air that met his nose and the lightness he'd fell walking down those steps towards the parking lot.
It was the usual routine the small family did. Go to church every Sunday morning and then hit the local Ihop for the pancake special. Or how his mother like to put it "Jesus meal." She had gotten a laugh from this every time.
"We thank you for this food and please bless us with it." His mother repeated for the fifth time.
Isaac just rolled his eyes figuring their were more important things to do than have these flour and buttery pancakes covered in maple syrup be healthy for ones "body and soul". Each took a slice and some bacon and pancake, only after they all shared a loud amen. As if to let everyone know that they were a family that preyed before eating. He used to his a sharp wrap on the knuckles when he didn't say it loud enough.
"Church was nice." His mother spoke cutting up the bacon before using a fork to take a single bite and then push the rest away. She'd finish it by the end of the meal when no one was looking Isaac knew.
"Yup." Isaac replied while his brother continued playing his DS wishing he had done the same thing back then. As the oldest, still in the house, however he had his own expectation to meet up to before his mother could forget about him and focus on the next child. Something he'd never live up too.
"I wish he focus a little more on the other side of things. Always with forgiveness and accepting your fellow man." She said in an annoyed voice scrunching up her brow. "The old Testament was far more concrete. That was a message you could understand. Not with this double meaning these days."
"Yup." Isaac said not planning on tossing fuel onto the fire. He thought the new Pastor was far better than the old dying Ram who loved nothing more than to bring up the "firy pits of hell for all the sinners." He could tell how much his mother on the other hand enjoyed those sermons.
"And did you see what Mr. Lyon was wearing? Is he trying to show up the Pastor?" She muttered to herself stabbing a perfectly cut piece of pancake sharply making even Isaac wince. "I can't believe Pastor Rick didn't say something about that! The nerve of that young man."
Isaac wasn't about to point out the racism in that, how two lions looked alike just because they both were male lions and were wearing suits. He knew better though. His mother had a bad habit of doing that. Pointing out normal things to most as abnormal due to different species doing it. Like the cheetah the other day at the park who was taking a jog. "Of course a cat like that would be running." Something so simple and yet so underlining offensive. Even if it was meant as a compliment it still came off far worse.
This went on for the Ten minute drive home. The second the car stop Isaac was out the door. "Don't forget dinner tonight." His mother called after him as he was jogging across the lawn and onto the side walk. His brother had disappeared as well leaving his mother to grumble about ungrateful children for saving their souls and headed inside.
Isaac already had his phone out and was calling his friend. "Sup," Isaac said hiding behind the neighbors hedge bush before slowing down to a walk glad to be out of his mothers radar. "We still up?"
"Yup." Was the reply he got on the other line. Talking and yet it felt like they were just texting back and forth. Still Isaac preferred it. Far better than bland emotionless texting. Though he might've done that at the time just due to spite for the "social norm" of things. If it was popular he tended not to like it.
So with that the hyena found himself half walking, half jogging down the street towards his friends house. An old school bud he had since he was in Elementary school. One of those things that just stuck even as the years went on, even after they went to different middle schools. The reunion between the two was very bland and would never be seen in a Hollywood movie. Just a simple hey was exchanged between the two boys and that was all that needed to be said to rekindle their friendship. That's how it should be though Isaac wished.
Isaac didn't even knock as he headed inside. Most the houses on the street were cookie cutter version of themselves. This one was not. The white picket fence was broken in places, the paint was flaking and chipping and a few of the steaks were missing. The lawn was in similar disorder. Somehow an old toilet seat had found its way out on to the untrimmed, yellowing yard. An old bicycle was rusting next to it, missing its seat and thus useless, abandoned and forgotten. Several old toys had been thrown about as if a small hurricane had rolled through and were already beginning to be lost amongst the jungle tangled growth of the lawn.
There were too many cars in the driveway Isaac remembered; the garage was open with an old beat up truck taking up space inside. It was missing a wheel and a door. The other two cars were in similar shape but were at least drivable. For the most part... Isaac was sure the old beat up truck was also missing an engine but had only ever been in the garage once and barely recalled. He did remember the old fridge that still ran. It was usually stocked with Budweiser. Bottles poorly hidden behind juice cans. One of those odd small things you recall even years later.
The front window was cracked from where someone had thrown a rock at it and the inside was a mess. The clear window looked like stain glass from the lack of attention over the years. Old shoes and slippers and sandals were all knocked around with bodies coming and going through in front of the door. A clutter of pictures took up most of the walls and free space on the nearby table. A cete of badgers were in each picture. A large family that put his own to shame.
In the middle of each one was a large badger that looked more dragged down with each passing picture, the number of badgers increasing as they went. Swarming the large male was a scraggy looking bundle of black fur, white back honey badgers.
The house itself was always a mess. Old toys, garments, stepped on chips and a Popsicle stuck to the side of wall where poor illustration of crayon drawings were sprawled out a crossed.
"Hey Rodney," Isaac waved into the living room at the older badger in question. He was sprawled back in a lazy boy. With a clawed hand he waved over his shoulder, a beer clasp between his fingers giving no other form of greeting as he watched his soaps. The badger wasn't a man you'd think would watch something so girly. The one time someone asked him about it however ended up with the poor bastard in a ditch a mile out of town. Otherwise he was, mostly, a friendly hard working stiff.
Wrapping his knuckle on the door Isaac headed into the farthest room of the two floor house. The sign on the door read keep out in big bold letters. It was hanging from a crooked nail sticking out from the front, a straw string kept the crooked sign from falling off. "Roar," Isaac said at the three badgers in the room lifting up his arms with a halfhearted joke.
"Hey hey back from the widow makers?" Rodney Jr. said from the bottom bunk of the bunk bed. The other two gave weak waves like their father had, all three playing on the same system.
Isaac returned the greetings to each one.
"Alright you buggers," Rodney said giving a good bare paw kick to his two brothers. "Out with ya'!"
"Ah, come on!" One of them whined loudly. Charlie or Chester, Isaac couldn't remember after all these years. He was around elementary at the time.
"Isaac doesn't mind." The other said a few years older. Maybe he was Charlie and the other was Chester, Isaac didn't bother fussing over the thoughts.
"Like hell he doesn't." Rodney growl raising his leg up again but soon watched both of the kits run out the room around Isaac greeting the hyena on the way out and sticking their tongues out, flipping their brother off before vanishing down the hall. "Sup." The honey badger said again giving him a single nod before turning back to the game, already restarting it planning on tossing a tv series they had been watching.
"I wish you wouldn't call mum that." Isaac grumbled but chuckled as he closed the door behind him and walked over to join the badger.
"Like I give a shit." Rodney just said flatly, truthfully a good change of pace from all the two faces at the church. Isaac took a step over. "The hell do ya' think your doing?" Rodney growled glaring at him sharply muzzle lifting up baring teeth.
"Sheesh," Isaac rolled his eyes as he took off his jacket and unbuttoned his pants, loosened his shirt, slipped his stuffy shoes off and climbed into bed next to him. He turned around and laid out using the badgers lap as a pillow and looked up at him the badger who had relaxed back down.
"Better," Rodney grumbled before bending down and planting a kiss on his lips. A paw moved to scratch inside his shirt. And Isaac nosed at the honey badgers belly closing his eyes. Even now he could recall the feel of that belly against his snout.